'Noles, Gators, 'Canes all advance to regional finals

Associated Press

Published Sunday, June 06, 2004

TALLAHASSEE -- Rhett James took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and reliever Matt DiBlasi worked out of a huge jam in the eighth to help Florida State beat Central Florida 3-2 Saturday and earn a spot in the regional championship game.

Holding a one-run lead in the eighth, DiBlasi entered the game with runners at second and third and no outs. The left-hander enticed an infield fly and turned two comebackers into outs to preserve the lead.

James (10-2) gave up a one-out single to Dee Brown in the seventh for UCF's first hit. But the Golden Knights chased James with two singles sandwiched around a walk to start the eighth.

Pinch-hitter Marshall Bernhard met reliever Kevin Lynch with a two-run double to get the Knights (45-17) back in the game.

But DiBlasi kept the Seminoles (43-20) on top. He allowed a two-out single in the ninth -- his only blemish en route to his second save.

Ryne Malone's first-inning sacrifice gave Florida State a 1-0 lead. The Seminoles added two more in the fourth.

Malone worked Kyle Bono for a leadoff walk, moved to third on Matt Sauls' double and scored on Gibbs Chapman's sacrifice fly. Shane Robinson's RBI single scored Sauls and made it 3-0.

Bono (8-2) allowed five hits and three runs in seven innings.

Bryan Zech and Stephen Drew led the Seminoles with two hits each.

On Sunday, Florida State will meet the winner of the Oklahoma State-Central Florida game later Saturday.

Miami 19, N.C. State 5

CORAL GABLES -- Gaby Sanchez drove in six runs to lead Miami to a victory against North Carolina State.

With the win, the Hurricanes moved into the regional finals today.

Miami (46-11) fell behind 4-0 in the first but rallied to score 11 runs over the next three innings. The Hurricanes rattled North Carolina State ace Michael Rogers for a career-high 11 earned runs on 12 hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

Rogers (9-4) threw 75 pitches, walked three and allowed a pair of home runs -- including a three-run shot by Sanchez in the fourth.

Rogers' departure did little to slow Miami's offense. The Hurricanes added four more runs in each of the next two innings against relievers Nate Cretarolo and Gib Hobson.

Miami's Jim Burt finished 4-for-5 with five RBIs and scored four runs. He had a three-run homer in the fifth to put the 'Canes up 15-5. He added an RBI single in the sixth.

Florida 4, UCLA 3

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Ben Harrison hit a two-run home run and Florida advanced to the finals of the Oklahoma City regional with a win against UCLA.

Connor Falkenbach (10-6) pitched a complete game for Florida, scattering 10 hits and giving up three runs. He struck out five and walked two.

C.J. Smith put the Gators ahead 2-1 with an RBI single in the fifth and came around to score on Harrison's 17th homer of the season.

Billy Susdorf hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the fifth and Preston Griffin added a two-out RBI single as the Bruins pulled within 4-3.

Falkenbach retired the next eight batters he faced before allowing consecutive one-out singles in the ninth, but got out of the jam by getting Brett McMillan to ground into a game-ending double play.